Washing machine



H. 1.. JOHNSTQ WASHING MACHINE Sept 935.

Original Filed Au 50, 1950 ATTORN EYS W T N F- V I WW Patented Sept. 3,1935 HTE WASHING MACHINE Herbert L. Johnston,

Hobart Manufacturin a corporation of Ohio Original application Au478,978. Divided and 1932, Serial No. 626,06 1931 Troy, Ohio, assignorto The g Company, Troy, Ohio,

gust 30, 1930, Serial No. this application July 29, 0. In Canada August25,

20 Claims. (Cl. 141-9) This invention relates to washing machines.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision in awashing machine having a rotatable wash arm of an improved bearingmounting for the rotatable wash arm, which is economical inconstruction, highly efiective in operation, has long life, and which isprotected against leakage liquid and the damp atmosphere within awashing machine while at the same time adequate lubrication of thebearing is aiforded.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a washing machine ofa rotatable wash arm mounted within the washing compartment, andsupported upon a bearing positioned on the exterior of the washingcompartment and effectively sealed from the atmosphere of the washin'gcompartment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 478,978, filedAugust 30, 1930.

In the drawing, in which like characters of reference designate likeparts throughout the several views thereof Fig. 1 is a partial sideelevational view of a washing machine having a. rotatable wash arm andexterior bearing support therefor, constructed in accordance with thisinvention, the washing machine casing being broken away and shown insection for clearness in illustration;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the wash arm and its supportingstructure shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, which discloses a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the casing of a washing machine for the washing of dishes andother articles, is illustrated generally at 28. It will be understoodthat the washing machine is provided with means for supporting dishes orother articles within the casing, where they are subjected to sprays ofwashing liquid from the rotatable wash arm 98. The wash liquid issupplied to the wash arm through the conduit 91 mounted entirely withinthe washing machine casing, and connected to the elbow I05. The latterhas a downwardly directed opening 99 which communicates with an upwardlydirected opening I in the central or hub portion of the wash arm, sothat the wash liquid supplied to the elbow by the conduit 91 is in turndirected into the hollow branches of the wash arm 98. The wash arm maybe of conventional construction, having, two or more radially extendingarms which branch ofi of the hub portion, each arm having downwardlydirected spray ports I III for the discharge of the washing liquid.Certain of the spray ports'are inclined, so that the wash arm is rotatedby the reactive force of the discharge liquid. The wash arm is rotatablysupported in closely spaced relationship with the downwardly extendingend of the elbow I05, so as to provide for the free rotation of the washarm, while restraining liquid leakage. As shown, the wash arm isprovided with an inwardly extending annular flange I02 which is spacedjust beneath the lower end of the elbow I05, and also an upwardlyextending annular flange I03 which surrounds this lower end of theelbow.

Elbow I05 is formed with an annular flange I06 which is bolted to theinterior side of the casing 28 about a circular opening provided in thiscasing. A bearing supporting member I08 is positioned on the exterior ofthe casing 28 in substantial alignment with member I05, and carries acylindrical attaching flange II 0 on the outer side of the casing 28opposite the flange I06. The casing 28 is securely bolted betweenflanges I06 and III! by the bolts I09.

The member I08, as shown, comprises the attaching flange IIIl, upwardlyextending ribs III, and a cylindrical bearing retainer or sleeve II2within which are mounted suitable bearings for the support and freerotational movement of the upper wash arm 98. The interior of thedownwardly extending cylindrical sleeve II 2 is provided with a step H4for the support of the outer race N4 of a ball bearing H5. The innerrace 5' for bearing 5 is carried upon a shaft II 8 which is removablyattached toand supports the wash arm. 98. The bearing is constructed tosustain the thrust loads on the shaft II6. A cap member 1 secured to theportion II2 has a downwardly extending cylindrical flange II8 which isadapted to bear against and position the outer race 4' of this bearing.The inner race I I5, a spacing sleeve I and the inner race I2I of asecond bearing I2I are secured to the shaft II6 by being clamped betweena collar I22 shown formed as an integral part of the shaft, and a washerI23 which is held in clamped engagement against the bearing assembly bymeans of a nut I 24 threadedly engaging the end of the shaft H6. Theouter race of the lower bearing I2I contacts with the interior cylintheelbow I05 and at its lower end is engaged by a sleeve I21 which isprovided on the wash arm 98 and extends upwardly upon the axis thereofto within the area of the member I05. The lower end of the shaft H6 isthreaded to receive a nut I30 which holds the member 98 in position uponthe shaft. Upon assembling the wash arm 98 upon the shaft H6 and drawingthe nut I30 tight the wash arm 98 is held securely in location bycontact of the sleeve I21 against a. collar I32 which is held to theshaft as by means of a pin I33. The collar I32' is provided withdownwardly extending tongues I34 which fit within corresponding groovesI34 in the upper end of the sleeve I21 to'form a positive drivingconnection between the wash arm 98 and the shaft II6.

The collar I32 is provided with a. disk like extension I35 havingattached to its peripheral edge an upstanding cylindrical collar I36which encircles the portion II2 of the member I08. The disk I35 andcollar I36 form a substantially cup shaped retainer for the retention ofoil supplied to the bearings H5 and I2I; a suitable oil feeding meanssuch as the oil cup I38 being provided upon the cap member I I1. The cupshaped retainer cooperates with a disk like member I which is positionedbetween theflanges I06 and H0 to prevent the passage of washing fluidfro-m the interior of the casing through the opening provided in thecasing cover 28 through which the supporting shaft of the wash armpasses to the extween which are openings which provide communicatingpassages to the interior of the casing. The flange I06 is provided withan upstanding collar I46 which is adapted to be received within thecylindrical groove I41 provided in the flange portion IIO"of the memberI08. The disk like retaining member I40 is positioned within the grooveM1 and is held in place by the sleeve I46 when the members I05 and I08are clamped in position. The member I40 is provided with an opening ofsuch size that a small clearance space, indicated at I50, is providedbetween the disk like member I40 and the sleeve I36. Suitable peripheralridges I52 and I53 are provided on the sleeve I36 adjacent the memberI40 to prevent the passage of washing fluid between these members and todirect back into the washing compart-' and efiectively prevented fromsplashing to the exterior through the opening in the casing receivingthe wash arm. Any steam or water vapor that tends to pass through thepassages between the body portion and flange I06 of the member I05 isrestrained from reaching the exterior of the washing machine casing bythe close fittingand overlapping relationship between the disk I46 andthe flange I53. This construction which positions the wash arm bearingson the exterior of the housing thus not only provides an effective meansof retaining the bearing lubricant, but.

also protects, by the close fitting relationship between the stationarydisk I40 and the flange I53 of the rotatable lubricant retainer, againstthe passage of washing liquid to the exterior of the housing and tendsto prevent the escape of the damp atmosphere and steam from the interiorof the washing compartment housing through this small clearance space.However, if any steam or water vapor should escape between the disk I40and flange I53 this is promptly dissipated into the outer atmosphere bythe normal circulation of air accessible to this area by the ribbedconstruction of the bearing supporting member I08 which thus forms avent for the space surrounding the bearing retainer. The damp atmosphereof the washing compartment does not, therefore, have an opportunity tocome into contact with the wash arm bearings. The bearing lubricantretainer sleeve I36 terminates in close fitting relationship to theportion II2 of the bearing support and thus functions not only as alubricant retainer but also as a protecting enclosure to furtherminimize the likelihood of the ingress of dampness or steam from thewashing compartment into the bearing enclosure.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of th invention, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the invention which isdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l

1. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a movable nozzle within said casing, a shaftfixed to and extending from the nozzle through the casing at the openingto the casing exterior, said shaft passing through the casing at theopening in friction free relationship therewith, shaft supportingbearing means positioned exteriorly of the casing and adjacent theopening, said exterior bearing means affording the sole guide andsupport for said nozzle and shaft, and means on the shaft adjacent theopening for isolating'the bearing means from the atmosphere of thewashing compartment, said isolating means being spaced from the casingand afiording a venting gap for the casing at the opening.

2. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a movable nozzle within said casing, a nozzlesupporting shaft extending through the opening to the exterior of thecasing, a bearing supporting member positioned exteriorly of the casingover the casing opening and extending to the casing, said member havingan opening therein affording a free venting passage from the casingopening, a shaft supporting bearing carried by said member, and means onthe shaft cooperatively related to and spaced from the bearingsupporting member for isolating the bearing from the atmosphere of thewashing compartment.

3. In a washing machine, a casing having an opening therein, a rotatablewash arm positioned within said casing, a shalt attached to said washarm and providing a pivotal axis therefor, said shaftpassing throughsaid opening. a supporting member positioned on the exterior of saidcas- Iii shaped retainer and the bearing supporting means having closelyspaced cooperating surfaces to further restrain ingress of dampatmosphere from within said casing into said bearing.

12. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washingcompartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquidto said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash armextending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearingfor said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting saidbearing overlying said opening, a lubricant retainer carried by saidshaft and surrounding said bearing, and a sealing member carried by saidbearing supporting means and cooperating in closely spaced relationshipwith said lubricant retainer to restrain leakage from within said casingto the exterior thereof between said retainer and said bearingsupporting means, said retainer having an extending flange positioned onthe inner side of said sealing member to provide a liquid flinger forreturning liquid leakage to the interior of said casing.

13. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving anopening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washingcompartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquidto said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash armextending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearingfor said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting saidbearing overlying said opening, said conduit having an annular flangeextending about'said opening on the inner side of said casing, saidbearing supporting means having an annular flange extending about saidopening on the outer side of said casing, and means for clamping saidflanges together with said casing therebetween.

14. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washingcompartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquidto said wasli arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash armextending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearingfor said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting saidbearing overlying said opening, said conduit having an annular flangeextending about said opening on the inner side of said casing, saidbearing supporting means having an annular flange extending about saidopening on the outer side of said casing, means for clamping saidflanges together with said casing therebetween, and a sealing an annularflange extending about said opening on the inner side of said casing,said bearing supporting means having an annular flange extending aboutsaid opening on the outer side of said casing, means for clam ing saidflanges together with said casing therebetween, and a sealing member forrestraining leakage through said opening, said conduit flange having anopening therethrough inwardly of said sealing member to provide for thereturn oi. leakage liquid to the interior of said casing.

16. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washingcompartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquidto said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash armextending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearingfor said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting saidbearing overlying said opening, said conduit having an annular flangeextending about said opening on the inner side of said casing, saidbearing supporting means having'an annular flange extending about saidopening on the outer side of said casing, means for clamping saidflanges together with said casing therebetween, a sealing member forrestraining leakage through said opening, said conduit flange having anopening therethrough inwardly of said sealing member to Y provide forthe return of leakage liquid to the interior of said casing, and aflinger carried by said shaft inwardly of said sealing member forpositively returning liquid leakage through said flange 3 therein, arotatable wash arm within said washing compartment for spraying liquidtherein, a conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft forrotatably supporting said wash arm extending through said opening to theexterior of said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior ofsaid casing, means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening,said conduit having a portion positioned within said casing adjacentsaid opening and surrounding said shaft, a flange on said conduitfastened to said casing, a sealing member forrestraining leakage throughsaid opening, said conduit flange having an opening therethroughinwardly of said sealing member to provide for the return of leakageliquid to the interior of said casing, and a bearing lubricant retainercarried by said shaft, said retainer having a liquid flinger means andwithin the space enclosed by said conduit flange for both positivelyreturning liquid leakage through said flange opening to the interior ofsaid casing and preventing leakage into said bearing while confininglubricant therein.

18. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washingcompartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquidto said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash armextending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearingfor said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting saidbearing overlying said opening, said conduit having a portion positionedwithin said casing adjacent said opening and surrounding said shaft, aflange on said conduit fastened to said casing, a sealing member forrestraining leakage through said opening, said conduit flange having anopening therethrough inwardly of said sealing member to provide for thereturn of leakage liquid to the interior of said casing, and a bearinglubricant retainer carried by said shaft, said retainer having an offsetportion and having opening.

- arm shaft, a bearing carried thereby, and'means carried by the shaftadjacent the opening and free of contact with any part other than theshaft for isolating said hearing from the casing 4. In a washingmachine, a casing having an. opening therein, a rotatable wash armpositioned within said casing, a member positioned on the interior ofthe casing adjacent the opening and comprising a fluid conduit to supplywashing fluid to said wash arm, said interior member having passagesproviding communication between the exterior and interior of the casingthrough said opening, supporting means for said wash arm comprising amember positioned on the exterior of said casing in cooperativerelationship with said interior member, and meansassociated with saidmembers to-restrain the passage of washing fluid from the casing throughsaid passages and opening.

5. In a washing machine, a casing having an opening therein, a rotatablewash arm within said casing, an axially mounted member on said wash arm,supporting means for said wash arm comprising a member positioned on theexterior of said casing,- overlying the opening, said supporting membercomprising a bearing for said axially mounted member, a memberpositioned on the interior of the casing adjacent the opening incooperative relationship with said supporting member, said interiormember providing a liquid conduit and having a passage for said axiallymounted member and a passage providing communication between theinterior and the exterior of said casing through said opening, and meansfor directing into the casing leakage liquid passing between the axiallymount-ed member and the interior member.

6. In a washing machine, a casing having an opening therein, a rotatablewash arm positioned within said casing, a shaft for said wash armextending through said opening, a supporting member for said wash armshaft, said supporting member beingpositiorled exteriorly of said casingand comprising -a downwardly extending bearing, retainer, and anupwardly extending cup shaped lubricant retainer on said shaftsurrounding said bearing retainer and isolating said bearing retainerfrom the casing opening.

7. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving a venting opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within saidwashing compartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit within saidcasing having an open end communicating with said wash arm for supplyingliquid, to said wash arm and having an opening for passage of a shaft, ashaft fixed to and rotatably supporting said wash arm and extending fromthe wash arm through the conduit open end and shaft passage and thecasing opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearing for said shafton the exterior of said casing, said exterior bearing affording the soleguide and support for said shaft, means for supporting said bearingoverlying said casing opening, and means associated with the shaftsubstantially closing the conduit shaft passage and easing opening torestrain liquid leakage through said opening and for isolating saidbearing against ingress of damp atmosphere from within said casing.

8. Ina washing'machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washingcompartment for spraying liquid therein, a

conduit for supplying liquid to said wash arm, a shaft for rotatablysupporting said wash arm extending through said opening to the exteriorof said casing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing,means for supporting said bearing overlying said opening, and alubricant retainer carried by said shaft and surrounding said bearingfor isolating said bearing against ingress of damp atmosphere fromwithin said casing.

9. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washingcompartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquidto said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash armextending through said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearingfor said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting saidbearing overlying said opening, a lubricant retainer carried by saidshaft and surrounding said bearing, and a sealing member carried by saidbearing supporting means and cooperating in closely spaced relationshipwith said lubricant retainer to restrain leakage from within said casingto the ext rior thereof.

10. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washingcompartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquidto said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said wash armextending through'said opening to the exterior of said casing, a bearingfor said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means for supporting saidbearing overlying said opening, acup-shaped lubricant retainer carriedby said shaft and surrounding said bearing, and a sealing member carriedby said bearing supporting means and cooperating in closely spacedrelationship with said cup-shaped lubricant retainer to restrain leakagefrom within said casing to the exterior 1 thereof between saidcup-shaped retainer and said bearing supporting means, said bearingsupporting means having ventilating openings communicating withatmosphere surrounding said cup-shaped retainer and on the outer side ofsaid scaling member to thereby provide a vent to atmosphere for thespace surrounding said cupshaped retainer. v

11. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing cempartment andhaving an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said wasningcompartment for spraying liquid therein, a conduit for supplying liquidto said wash arm, a shaft for rotatably supporting said Wash armextending through said opening to the exterior of said casing; abearingfor said shaft on the exterior of said casing, means forsupporting said bearing overlying said opening, means for lubrieatingsaid bearing, an outwardly opening cupshaped lubricant retainer carriedby said shaft and surrounding said bearing, a sealing member ca ried bysaid bearing supporting means and cooperating in closely spacedrelationship with said cup-shaped lubricant retainer to? restrainleakage from within said casing to the exterior thereof between saidcup-shaped retainer and' a liquid flinger positioned inwardly of thesealing means and within the space enclosed by said conduit flange forboth positively returning liquid leakage through said flange opening tothe interior of said casing and preventing leakage into said bearingwhile confining lubricant therein, said sealing member cooperating inclosely spaced relationship with the offset portion of the lubricantretainer to restrain passage of the damp atmosphere within said casingto the exterior thereof.

19. In a washing machine, a casing having a cover portion provided withan opening therein, a rotatable wash arm suspended from said coverportion for spraying liquid within said casing, said wash arm having acentrally arranged upper opening, a conduit having'a down-turned elbowprovided with an opening communicating with said opening in the wash armfor supplying liquid to said wash arm, said conduit having an upperopening aligned with said opening in the cover portion of the casing, ashaft for rotatably supporting said wash arm extending through thealigned openings in said conduit and casing to the exterior of thecasing, a bearing for said shaft on the exterior of said casing,'abearing supporting member on the exterior of said casing mounted aboutsaid casing opening and having a downwardly depending sleeve forconfiningsaid bearing, an upwardly opening cup-shaped lubricant retainercarried by said shaft and surrounding said depending sleeve in closelyspaced relationship, said bearing supporting means having a ribbedportion with intermediate openings positioned about the upper portion ofsaid cup-shaped lubricant retainer to vent the space surrounding theupper portion of said lubricant retainer, and a sealing member arrangedbetween said bearing supporting member and the exterior of saidcup-shaped lubricant retainer inwardly of said ribbed portion of thebearing supporting member.

20. In a washing machine, a casing providing a washing compartment andhaving an opening therein, a rotatable wash arm within said washingcompartment for spraying liquid therein, said wash arm having a shaftmember extending through the casing opening, means for supplying liquidto said wash arm comprising a conduit having an opening for passage ofthe shaft member, an anti-friction bearing positioned on the exterior ofsaid casing opposite said casing opening for rotatably supporting saidshaft member and wash arm, means cooperatively related to and out ofcontact with said shaft member for restraining the passage of liquid anddamp atmosphere from within said casing through said opening totheexterior thereof about said shaft member, and means on the shaft memberfor returning liquid leakage from the conduit opening at the shaftpassage to the interior of said casing and for sealing said bearingagainst ingress of both liquid leakage and the damp atmosphere fromwithin said casing.

HERBERT L. JOHNSTON.

